The man looked up at Johnny out of the corner of his eye. He took in the well rounded shoulders that bulged the lines of his new coat, noted his hard clenched fist and the clear keen glint in his eye.
“Think you’re a smart bunch, don’t ya’?” he growled. “College kids!”
“We’re not a bunch,” said Johnny. “And I’m not from college. I’m just now from the sticks. Some day you fellows will learn that all the boobs don’t come from the sticks. Mostly they don’t. They live right here in the city.
“As for those other fellows, I don’t know their game. I only know that one of you got my money, and I want it back.”
“You—you don’t know those other young fellows?” The man’s tone sounded his surprise.
Then a light of cunning appeared in his eyes.
“All you want is your money? Well, there it is, kid.” He placed Johnny’s purse on the cobblestones, then stole a fugitive glance to the corner round which the other three had gone. “You’ve got your money back. Sorry I took it, kid. Just a joke. Joke on a country kid. Ha! Ha! Guess I can go now.”
“Guess you can’t!” said Johnny, paying no attention to the pocketbook.
“Say, I’ll tell you!” the man exclaimed. “You’re a smart kid. How’d a leaf look to you? Huh? A whole leaf?”
“A—a leaf?”